Nelson's last diary, September 13-October 21, 1805 : With an introd. and notes by Gilbert Hudson

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Published by permission of SIR SAMUEL

EVANS, President of the Probate Divorce

and Admiralty Division.

NELSON'S LAST
DIARY

SEPTEMBER 13— OCTOBER 21, 1805

With an Introduction and Notes by
Gilbert Hudson

LONDON \

ELKIN MATHEWS, CORK STREET
M CM XVII

Df\
gl

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 9

THE PRIVATE DIARY, SEPTEMBER 13 TO OCTOBER 8 15

NOTE OF A MISSING LEAF 20

THE PRIVATE DIARY, OCTOBER 9 TO OCTOBER 19 . 20

NOTE OF A MISSING LEAF 23

THE PRIVATE DIARY, OCTOBER 19 TO OCTOBER 21 . 23

THE CODICIL 25

THE AFFIDAVIT .... .27

NOTES 30

ADDITIONAL LETTERS 41

The vignette portrait on the title-page is after a drawing
by GEORGE CRUIKSHANK

NOTE

The transcription of the Diary was under-
taken at the suggestion of Mr. F. W. X. Fincham,
Superintendent of the Literary Department,
Principal Probate Registry, to whom and all
other helpers the writer desires to express his
acknowledgments.

INTRODUCTION

THE Private Journal or Diary kept by Nelson
from the time of his leaving Merton until the
morning of Trafalgar, was afterwards brought
to England by Captain Hardy. The Codicil
which occupies its final pages, being proved as
the eighth and last to the Will, the whole book
was duly filed at Doctors' Commons, and
transferred, in accordance with the " Probate
Court Act" of 1857, to the Probate Registry
at Somerset House, where it and the other
testamentary documents, like the Will of
Shakespeare, are now preserved in a specially
constructed box or case.

Dr. Beatty, in his ' Authentic Narrative of
the Death of Nelson' (1807), calls the Diary
the Memorandum Book ; and as far as looks
go it is nothing else. It measures about seven
inches by four-and-a-half, and contains twenty
leaves — now numbered as forty pages — all of
them except the first, and the last five, being
9

INTRODUCTION

written on both sides entirely by Nelson's own
left hand, interleaved with blotting-paper, and
bound in limp leather covers of a deep red
shade. Nothing but a slight crinkling of these
covers remains to show that the book lay during
many years rolled up with the Will and other
papers, without distinction of place or treatment.
The fact that they have been protected, like
thousands of other interesting records, from the
deleterious handling of idle curiosity, speaks
well for those official regulations which the
general public is always ready enough to con-
demn as arbitrary and unreasonable.

Had the Diary been lodged in scrupulous
custody at an earlier date, it might have re-
tained its original number of leaves, whereof two,
unfortunately, have long been missing. But the
mutilation is not visible except on careful
scrutiny, and the book now appears only a little
more soiled and worn than when it lay in
Nelson's escritoire, unhurt amid the perilous
tumult of Trafalgar.

The time-mellowed pages have a peculiar
odour of a much more agreeable pungency than
the usual mustiness of ancient records, and more
than faintly suggestive of spicy exhalations from
tar and hemp and timber. Whether this arises
indeed from some old permeation of nautical
atmosphere and circumstance, or merely from
certain fragrant qualities of the paper and
10

INTRODUCTION

binding, or by chance from any process of
fumigation or embalmment, or from what other
cause soever, it deserves at least brief mention
if only for the sake of sentiment.

Another curious detail is, that the writing
nicely fills the paper, with the exception of the
sides left blank, as noted above, at the beginning
and the end of the book. Had the length of the
entries been foreseen, and adapted to the space
(which is impossible), they could not have fitted
much better.

The contents of the Diary have never been
printed word for word either as they exist to-day
or as before they were diminished by the theft of
two whole leaves ; nor has this injury to the
precious manuscript been pointed out till now.
The Affidavit, moreover, upon which the Codicil
was proved, and which, by the way, was never
registered, appears now, probably for the first
time, in its proper context.

The transcription has been collated with the
extracts given, as from the Private Diary, in
the seventh volume of the ' Despatches and
Letters of Lord Nelson ' (1846) — hereafter
referred to simply as the ' Despatches ' — edited
by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas ; from which
work all subsequent biographers seem to have
drawn their quotations. No extracts occur in
Clarke and M' Arthur's ' Life of Nelson ' (1840)
which do not afterwards appear in the ' Des-
n

INTRODUCTION

patches,' and all the extracts printed in the
latter work are described by the editor as taken
either from the former, or from Dr. Beatty's
' Narrative of the Death, etc./ or from " auto-
graphs or facsimiles." Was Dr. Beatty, then,
the only editor who copied from the Diary
itself? If he had the original before him, the
fact that he heads his extract for October 20,
as taken from an " autograph or facsimile,"
proves that the leaf containing this entry — and
also, therefore, the corresponding leaf — must
have been abstracted before the date of his
writing.*

Nelson's handwriting is in some places by no
means easy to decipher, and would often baffle
an unaccustomed reader ; but the consistency
of the formations soon makes them clearer
upon acquaintance. The lines run remarkably
straight, and like the words are freely and
evenly spaced. He very frequently wrote
capital or enlarged small letters instead of
ordinary initials, and less frequently small
letters, or what look like them, at the beginning
of entries and in other positions where modern
usage would have expected capitals. Punctua-
tion he almost eschews. An attempt to
represent all these peculiarities in type would

* See the notes under October 3 and 20 in the text of
the Diary and at the end.

12

INTRODUCTION

not have served any useful purpose. By printing
capitals where custom now demands them, or
may at least allow them, and also by supplying
necessary stops, the transcriber hopes he has
followed a satisfactory course between a thorough
modernisation and a facsimile reproduction.

G. H.

LORD NELSON'S LAST
PRIVATE DIARY

(KNOWN ALSO AS THE PRIVATE JOURNAL AND

AS THE MEMORANDUM BOOK)

FRIDAY Night at half-past Ten drove from dear,
dear Merton, where I left all which I hold dear
in this World, to go to serve my King &
Country. May the Great God Whom I adore
enable me to fullfill the expectations of my
Country, and if it is His good pleasure that I
should return, my thanks will never cease being
offered up to the Throne of His Mercy. If it is
His good providence to cut short my days upon
Earth, I bow with the greatest submission,
relying that He will protect those so dear to me
that I may leave behind.

His Will be done.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Saturday, Sept. itfh, 1805. — At six o'clock
arrived at Portsmouth, and having arrainged all
my business embarked at the Bathing Machines
15

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

with Mr. Rose and Mr. Canning. At 2 got on
board the Victory at St. Helen's, who dined with
me ; preparing for sea.

Sunday, Sept. i$tk, 1805. — At day weighed
with light airs Northerly. At 6 was obliged to
anchor. At 8 weighed. All day light breezes.
At sun sett off Christ Church. All night light
Breezes & very foggy. Euryalus in company.

Wrote Ly. Hn.

Monday, Sept. i6th. — First part light Breezes
& very foggy. At noon fresh Breezes Westerly.
In the evening off the Berry head 4 miles. All
night fresh Breezes Westerly.

Wrote Ly. H.

Tuesday, Sept. \*jth.— Fresh Breezes WSW.
At 9 abreast of Plyh. Sent in Euryalus to call
out the Ajax and Thunderer. All night standg.
to the Westward. Wind from SW to SSW.

Wrote Ly. H.

Wednesday, Sept. 18. — First part light
Breezes & heavy western swell. Wind South.
Lay too for the Ajax and Thunderer. Lizard
North. At noon they joined. Made all possible
sail. All night Breezes Vble from SE to SSW
Swell from the Westward.

Thursday, Sept. igth. — First part fresh gales
& heavy sea. At noon hard gales at SW. At
16

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

6 P.M. hard Rain, wind at NW. All night
heavy sea & fresh breezes.

Wrote Ly. Hn.

Friday, Sept. 20th. — Modte Breezes WSW &
heavy sea. At 9 saw a Squadron of Ships of
War. At 1 1 passed the Squadron of Rear- Adi.
Stirling, consisting of 5 Sail of the Line and one
Frigate. At noon wind WSW. Saw a Frigate
to windward which made the private signal. At
2 spoke the Decade carrying the Flag of Rear-
Adi. Sir Richard Bickerton. Capt. Stuart came
on board. Gave him orders for his farther pro-
ceedgs. Fresh gales. At 3 reeft the Courses.
All night very fresh gales from the NW which
came on with heavy rain at 7 o'clock.

Saturday, Sept. list, 1805. — Fresh gales all
day at NNW. At night wind at North & NE.
Heavy swell.

Sunday, Sept. 22nd. — Modte Breezes at NE
& heavy swell from NW. At i o'clock saw a
Convoy of 7 sail under a vessel of war in the SE.
quarter. At 6 o'clock Euryalus made the signal
that a vessel was reconnoitering in the East
quarter. All night fresh gales at East to ESE.

Monday, Sept. 2$rd.— Fresh gales E b S. At
6 o'clock abreast of Cape Finisterre 17 Lgs. At
17 C

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

noon modte W : in Latd 42° : 2*5 [sic.] N. All
night fine weather. Wind Easterly.

Tiiesday, Sept. 24^.— Modte Breezes SE.
At noon in Latd. 40 : 05 N : 3 P.M. light airs
South. In the evening wind Northerly. Light
Breezes all night at NE and a swell from the
NW.

Wrote Ly. H.

Wednesday, Sept. 2$th, 1805. — Light airs
Southerly. Saw the Rock of Lisbon SSE
10 Leagues. At sun sett the Capt. of the Con-
stance came on board. Sent my letters for
England by him to Lisbon, and wrote to Capt.
Sutton & the Consul. The Enemy's Fleet had
not left Cadiz the i8th of this month, therefore
I yet hope they will wait my arrival.

Thursday, Sept. 26th.— Light airs at NW all
day. Rock of Lisbon in sight to the NNE
13-14 Lgs. At 4 o'clock sent Euryalus to join
Vice Adi. Collingwood with my orders to put
himself under my Command, considering myself
as within the limits of my Command. All night
light Breezes at NW.

Friday, Sept. 27 th, 1805.— At daylight Cape

St. Vincent SE b S by compass 6 Leagues.

Saw a Sloop of war or small Frigate East 5 or 6

miles. Called her in. She proved to be the

18

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Nautilus Sloop from Vice Adi. Collingwood
bound to England with dispatches. At noon
abreast of Lagos Bay. Fresh Breezes NW.
At I A.M. brought too. Fresh Breezes NW b N.

Saturday, Sept. 2%th, 1805.— Fresh Breezes at
NNW. At daylight bore up & made sail. At
9 saw the Aetna cruizing. At noon saw nine sail
of ships of war bearing East Lat : 36 : 32 N.
At one saw eighteen Sail. Nearly calm. In the
evening joined the Fleet under Vice Admiral
Collingwd. Saw the Enemy's Fleet in Cadiz,
amounting to 35 or 36 Sail of the Line.

Sunday, Sept. 2§th. — Fine weather. Gave out
the necessary orders for the Fleet. Sent Euryalus
to watch the Enemy with the Hydra off Cadiz.

Monday, Sept. $Qth. — Fine weather. Wind
Easterly.

Tuesday, Octr. 1st.— Fine Wr. Adi. Louis,
I squadron, joined with Thunder [sic.] and
Endymion with sprung masts. Sent Aetna to
cruize under Cape St. Mary's. Pickle joined
from Plymouth.

Wrote Ly. Hn.

Wednesday, Octr. 2nd. — Fine Wr. Westerly.
Sent Thunder to Gibr., Sarda., Palermo &
Naples. Sent Canopus, Tigre, Spencer, Queen,
19 C 2

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Zealous to Gibr. & Tetuan for water & provns.
Sent the Nimble to England. All night fine
weather.

Monday, Octr. $rd, 1805. — Fine weather. Sent
Eurydice to cruize under Cape St. Mary's.

[Note. — This entry is the last on the page now num-
bered 1 6. Page 17 begins with the words about the
Eurydice. Then follows the entry dated October 9th.
With the exception therefore of the Eurydice note (which
must have been the last under October 8th), the entries
for the 4th, 5th, 6th, yth, and 8th days are wanting. The
leaf which contained them was the half-sheet corre-
sponding to the half-sheet — also missing — which con-
tained most of the entry for October 2oth. The latter
deficiency can be made good from the " Despatches," but
the former seems beyond remedy, unless, indeed, the
present possessor of the stolen half-sheet can be found.]

(Tuesday, Octr. 8/4) — Off Cadiz Eurydice
captured a Spanish Privateer.

Wednesday, Octr. gth. — Fresh Breezes East-
erly. Receiv'd an account from Capt. Black-
wood that the French ships had all bent their
Topgt. sails. Sent the Pickle to him with orders
to keep a good look out. Sent Adi. Collingwood
the Nelson Touch. At night wind Westerly.

Thursday Octr. iQth, 1805.— Fine Wr. Wind
Westerly. Received an account that the Enemy
are ready for Sea and at the very harbours

20

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Since the date of this publication a full transcript of
the Diary has been consulted at the British Museum.
It is mostly written in what appears to be Earl Nelson's
handwriting, but the first few pages are in another hand,
and the codicil in a third. The entries under the hitherto
missing dates run in this transcript as follows : —

Friday, Octr. Ajh. — Fine Weather, Wind
Easterly, several Ships of War in sight to the
Southward, which proved to be Adml. Louis's
Squadron.

Saturday, Octr. %th. — Fine weather, Bittern
joined with 2 transports from Gibrar., laying
too, clearing transports.

Sunday, Octr. 6th. — Mode. Breezes ESE,
clearing transports in the night, fresh breezes,
Easterly.

Wrote Ly. H.

Monday, Octr. Jth, 1805. — Fresh breezes & a
hasty sea — joined the Amphion with a transport
from Lisbon — Naid \sic\ & Niger with transports
from Gibraltr. — sent the Bittern to Lisbon with
the Gibrr. mail — at noon mode. Breezes & a
swell from ye Eastward — all night fresh Gales,
Easterly.

Tuesday, Octr. %tk. — Fresh breezes, Easterly.
Royal Sovereign in sight to Leeward at 4 P.M.
she joined, sent the Naid [szc\ off Cadiz. Eury-
dice captured a Spanish Privateer.
20*

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Mouth. Bellisle made her number at noon.
Bellisle joined from Plyh. In the evening the
Renommee Frigate & Confounder G Brig. Sent
the Aetna & Confounder to Gibraltar. All
night very fresh Breezes NW & Rain.

Friday, Octr. 1 1 tk.— Fresh Breezes NW.

Saturday, Octr. \2tJt. — Fresh Breezes N Werly
—Keeping to the Westward.*

Wrote Ly. Hn.

Sunday, Octr. \$th, 1805. — Fine weather.
Agamemnon joind from England having fallen
in with the French Squadron off Cape Finistr.
consisting of i Three decker and 5 Two deck'd
ships, and had a narrow escape from capture.

L'Aimable also joined who had likewise been
chased. Prince of Wales sailed for England.

Monday, Octr. i^tk. — Fine weather. Westerly
wind. Sent Amphion to Gibraltar & Algiers.
Enemy at the Harbours Mouth. Placed Defence
& Agamemnon from seven to ten leagues West
of Cadiz and Mars & Colossus five leagues East
from the Fleet, whose station will be from 15
Igs. to twenty West of Cadiz, and by this chain
I hope to have a constant communication with
the Frigates off Cadiz.

* The words Renomee joined which follow here are
struck out.

21

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Tuesday, Octr. i$th. — Fine Wr. Westerly.
Sent Renommee & L ' Aimable to Gibralter &
Malta and the Warspt. to Gibr. Adi. Louis is
order' d to see the Convoy above Carthagena &
the Frigates to escort them to Malta. All night
modte. Breezes Westerly.

Wednesday, Octr. i6tk. — Modte Breezes
Westerly. All the forenoon employd forming
the Fleet into the order of sailing. At noon
fresh Breezes WSW & squally. In the
evening fresh gales. Enemy as before, by Sign,
from WeazeL

Thursday, Octr. 17 th, 1805. — Modte Brezs.
N Werly. Sent Donegal to Gibraltar to get a
ground tier of casks. Receivd accounts by the
Diligent Store ship that Sir Richd. Strachan
was supposed in sight of the French Rochford
Squadron, which I hope is true. At midnight
the wind came to the Eastward.

Friday, Octr. 1 8^.— Fine weather. Wind
Easterly. The Combined Fleets cannot have
finer Wr. to put to sea.

Saturday ', Octr. igtk. — Fine weather. Wind
Easterly. At ^ pt. 9 the Mars being one of
the Look out ships made the signal that the
Enemy were coming out of Port. Made the
signal for a general chase SE. Wind at South,

22

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Cadiz bearing ESE by compass distance 16
leagues. At three the Colosstis made the signal
that the Enemy's Fleet was at sea. In the evening
made signals to observe my motions during the
night, for the Britannia, Prince & Dreadnought^
they being heavy sailers, to take Stations as
convenient, and for Mars, Orion, Bellisle,
Leviathan, Better ophon & Polyphemus to go
ahead during the night and to carry a light,
standing for the Streights Mouth.

\Note. — Here is wanting the leaf spoken of in the note
to October 3. In its place the following extract is taken
from the " Despatches."]

PRIVATE DIARY

(Autograph in the possession of J. WILD, ESQ.)

Sunday, Octr. 2Otk, 1805. — Fresh Breezes
SSW and rainy. Communicated with Phoebe,
Defence and Colossus, who saw near forty sail of
ships of War outside of Cadiz yesterday evening,
but the wind being Southerly they could not
get to the Mouth of the Straits. We were
between Trafalgar and Cape Spartel. The
Frigates made the signal that they saw 9
sail outside the Harbour ; gave the Frigates
instructions for their guidance, and placed
Defence, Colossus and Mars between me and
the Frigates. At noon fresh gales and heavy
rain, Cadiz NE 9 Leagues. In the afternoon
23

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

Captain Blackwood telegraphed that the Enemy
seemed determined to go to the Westward ; and
that they shall not do if in the power of Nelson
and Bronte to prevent them.

[Note. — The Diary then continues, from the top of the
next page.]

At 5 telegraph' d Capt. Bd. that I rely'd upon
his keeping sight of the Enemy. At 5 o'clock
Naiad made the signal for 3 1 sail of the Enemy
NNE. The Frigates and Look out ships kept
sight of the Enemy most admirably all night,
and told me by signals which tack they were
upon. At 8 we wore & stood to the SW, and
at 4 a.m. wore and stood to the NE.

[Note. — This continuation is quoted in the " Des-
patches " as from " a Facsimile Copy in the possession
of Philip Toker, Esq.,— Clarke and M'Arthur, Vol. 11,
p. 441."]

Monday, Octr. 2.\st, 1805, — At day light saw
the Enemy's Combined Fleet from East to
ESE. Bore away, made the signal for order of
sailing and to prepare for Battle, the Enemy
with their heads to the Southward. At 7 the
Enemy wearing in succession. May the Great
God whom I worship Grant to my Country and
for the benefit of Europe in General a great
and Glorious Victory, and may no misconduct
in anyone tarnish it, and may humanity after
Victory be the predominant feature in the
24

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

British Fleet. For myself individually I commit
my life to Him Who made me, and may his
blessing light upon my endeavours for serving
my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself
and the just cause which is entrusted me to
Defend.

Amen, Amen, Amen.

[THE CODICIL FOLLOWS, AS TRANSCRIBED IN
THE " DESPATCHES " AND OTHER WORKS.]

October the Twenty first, one thousand
Eight hundred and five, then in sight
of the Combined Fleets of France and
Spain, distant about Ten Miles.

Whereas the Eminent Services of Emma
Hamilton, Widow of the Right Honourable
Sir William Hamilton, have been of the very
greatest service to our King and Country, to
my knowledge, without her receiving any reward
from either our King or Country, first, that she
obtained the King of Spain's letter in 1796 to
his brother the King of Naples acquainting him
of his intention to declare war against England,
from which letter the Ministry sent out orders
to then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if
opportunity offered against either the Arsenals
of Spain or her Fleets ; that neither of these was
done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton, the
opportunity might have been offered. Secondly,
25

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

the British Fleet under my command could
never have returned the second time to Egypt
had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the
Queen of Naples caused Letters to be wrote to
the Governor of Syracuse, that he was to en-
courage the Fleet being supplied with everything
should they put into any Port in Sicily. We
put into Syracuse and received every supply,
went to Egypt, and destroy'd the French Fleet.
Could I have rewarded these services I would
not now call upon my Country, but as that has
not been in my power, I leave Emma Lady
Hamilton therefore a Legacy to my King and
Country, that they will give her ample pro-
vision to maintain her Rank in Life. I also
leave to the beneficence of my Country my
adopted daughter Horatia Nelson Thompson
and I desire she will use in future the name of
Nelson only. These are the only favours I ask
of my King and Country at this moment, when
I am going to fight their Battle. May God
bless my King and Country, and all those who
I hold dear. My Relations it is needless to
mention ; they will of course be amply pro-
vided for.

NELSON AND BRONTE
(Witness) HENRY BLACKWOOD

T. M. HARDY

26

THE AFFIDAVIT

Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Prolate

Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court

of Justice.

IN THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY.

The following is a copy Affidavit annexed to
the Will of the Right Honourable Horatio
Lord Viscount Nelson deceased proved
nth July, 1806, but forming no part of
the Probate.

30TH JUNE, 1806.

APPEARED PERSONALLY the Reverend ALEXANDER
JOHN SCOTT of St. John's College in the University
of Cambridge & Vicar of South Minster in the county
of Essex Doctor in Divinity and made Oath that he
the Deponent on the 2ist day of October in the
year 1805 & for sometime preceding was Chaplain
on board his Majestys Ship Victory one of the
Squadron under the Command of the late Right
Honorable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson deceased
27

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

and this Deponent says that during an Action on the
day aforesaid between His said Majesty's Squadron
& the Combined Fleets of France & Spain off
Trafalgar the said Lord Viscount Nelson having been
mortally wounded in the said Action soon after the
same happened addressed himself to this Deponent
and sayd " I am dying Doctor remember me to
Lady Hamilton remember me to Horatia tell Lady
* [Hamjilton I have made a will and left her & Horatia
a legacy * [to my] Country " And this Deponent
says that the said Deceased * [severjal times in the
course of the same Day made declaration in the
hearing of and to this Deponent to the same effect
and having on the same day departed this life he
the Deponent was present on board the said Ship
with Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy Baronet then
Thomas Masterman Hardy Esquire Captain of the
said Ship when they found in the escrutoire of the
said Deceased a Book wherein amongst other things
are the words following to wit October the Twenty
first one thousand eight hundred and five then in
sight of the Combined Fleets of France and Spain
distant about ten miles also the words " I leave
Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a legacy to my King
and Country that they will give her an ample pro-
vision to maintain her Rank in life I also leave to
the beneficence of my country my adopted daughter
Horatia Nelson Thompson " and ending " my relations
it is needless to mention ithey will of course be amply
provided for " and thus subscribed " Nelson & Bronte "
and this Deponent says that having carefully viewed
the Book hereto annexed marked A wherein the
* Here a fragment of the paper is missing.
28

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

several words before recited appear the same is the
identical Book found in the escrutoire aforesaid in the
hand writing of the said deceased and that
believes meant & referred to by the deceased and
his aforesaid declarations.
Same day the said ALEXANDER JOHN
SCOTT Doctor in Divinity aforesaid
was duly sworn to the truth hereof. A. J. SCOTT.
Before me.

GEORGE OGILVIE
Surrogate

Pre* GEO. SILK.

Not. Pub.

* Here a few words have been worn out.

29

NOTES

1. Nelson begins at the top of the second side of
the first leaf : the first side being blank except for the
Doctors' Commons note — " Not to be registered to
the words October the twenty first one thousand eight
hundred and five. Geo. Silk. Proctor." Which
means that the contents thus determined were not
officially copied, like the will and other papers.

2. Friday night at half past ten. — In the * Des-
patches ' headed as follows :

* AUTOGRAPH OR FACSIMILE COPY IN THE POSSESSION
OF P. TOKER, ESQ.

FRIDAY NIGHT 13^ September?

3. Futtfill.—\i\ the ' Despatches,' fulfil. Either the
facsimile was none, or was inaccurately printed. The
Diary itself is of course the only autograph.

4. Bathing machines, instead of from the usual
landing place, " to elude the populace," says Southey,
" but a crowd collected," etc. — * Despatches.'

5. Sept. itfh. — In the 'Despatches' the previous
heading includes this extract, which is the last one
given until Sept. 2 5th.

30

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

6. Wrote Ly. Hn.-~ This jotting and its repetitions
may be illustrated by ' Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady
Hamilton,' Vol ii., or by the excerpts therefrom given
in the ' Despatches/

7. Vble = Variable.

8. Sept. 2$t/i.— This entry is headed in the c Des-
patches' as copied from Dr. Beatty's 'Authentic
Narrative of the Death, etc.' 2nd edn., the words
Wrote Ly. H. and from him being omitted. After
this date the ' Despatches ' volume contains no
extract until the 28th.

9. Sept. &th. — In the 'Despatches' this entry,
taken from Dr. Beatty's ' Narrative/ etc., runs thus :
" At noon saw eighteen sail. Nearly calm. In the
evening joined the Fleet," etc., the portion from saw
nine sail to at one being omitted. And the day is
named Sunday 28th September.

10. Septr. zgth. — His forty-seventh birthday. No
further entries in the * Despatches ' until Octr. Qth.

11. Octr. \st. — In a letter of this date to Lady
Hamilton, Nelson tells her how about four in the
morning he had one of his dreadful spasms, " which
has almost enervated me. It is very odd; I was
hardly ever better than yesterday. ... I slept un-
commonly well, but was awoke with the disorder. . . .
However, it is entirely gone oif, and I am only weak.

. . Perhaps this spasm may not come on again these
six months. I had been writing seven hours yester-
day • perhaps that had some hand in bringing it upon
me." ' Lord Nelson's Letters, etc.'

3*

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

12. Octr. -$rd. — See the note in the text under this
date.

13. Gctr. qth, lf the Nelson Toiich" — According to
a note in the ' Despatches,' Dr. Beatty's c Narrative '
has " the Nelson truth" and Beatty says that it is to
be presumed his Lordship meant the Instructions. . . .
But in the above letter to Lady Hamilton Nelson
writes : " I joined the Fleet late on the evening of
the 28th of September. ... I believe my arrival was
most welcome, not only to the Commander of the
Fleet, but also to every individual in it ; and when I
came to explain to them the Nelson touch, it was
like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved
— It was new — it was singular — it was simple ! !
and, from Admirals downwards it was repeated — It
must succeed, if ever they will allow us to get at
them " etc.

Captain A. T. Mahan in his 'Life of Nelson'
(1899) says of the Nelson Touch: "The expression
. . . probably originated in the family circle at Merton.
It occurs chiefly, if not wholly, in his letters to Lady
Hamilton, to whom, some days before joining the
Fleet he wrote : * I am anxious to join, for it would
add to my grief if any other man was to give them
the Nelson touch, which We say is warranted never
to fail ' ; but there may be a quaint allusion to it in
the motto he told Rose he had adopted, Touch and
Take."

Nelson had written, " I will try to have a Motto —
at least it shall be my watchword — Touch and Take."

The word in the Diary is toiich, beyond doubt.
Sir Henry Newbolt has something to say about the
32

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

touch in his Introduction to Southey's 'Life of
Nelson.'

No entry now occurs in the * Despatches ' until the
1 4th.

14. Octr. loth. — G Brig i.e. Gun Brig.

15. Oct. i5//$. — No entry in the 'Despatches.'

1 6. Oct. iith.— Which I hope is true. The last
word is roughly underlined in the Diary, but no
one well acquainted with the handwriting would dare
attach intention of emphasis to the mark ; for similar,
though smaller, strokes of the pen occur in one or
two other places where no such intention could have
directed them.

17. Oct. I9//5. Made sigl. — " Directed the fleet," in
the extract as quoted in the * Despatches ' from Clarke
and M' Arthur's 'Life of Nelson' (ii. 441).

1 8. On the igth Nelson wrote to Lady Hamilton :

MY DEAREST BELOVED EMMA, the dear friend of my
bosom, the signal has been made that the enemies'
combined fleet is coming out of port. We have very
little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them
before to-morrow. May the God of Battles crown
my endeavours with success. At all events I will
take care that my name shall be always most dear to
you and to Horatia, both of whom I love as much as
my own life ; and as my last writing before the battle
will be to you, so I hope to God that I shall live to
finish the letter after the battle. May Heaven bless
you, prays your

NELSON AND BRONTE.
33 D

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

The words, "as my last writing will be to you,"
are doubtless the cause, aided by sentiment, that this
letter has sometimes been taken for the last writing of
any kind from Nelson's pen.

In ' Nelson's Legacy,' by Frank Danby (1915), the
letter is introduced with the statement, " He spent the
last moments before going on deck to engage in
battle, in writing to the love of his life." But the
authors omits the important passage, " We have very
little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them
before to-morrow."

Continuation of letter dated Octr. i gih : —

Oct. 2O//2. — In the morning we were close to the
Mouth of the Straits, but the wind had not come far
enough to the Westward to allow the Combined
Fleets to weather the Shoals off Trafalgar ; but they
were counted as far as forty Sail of Ships of War,
which I suppose to be thirty four of the Line and six
Frigates. A group of them was seen off the Light-
house of Cadiz this morning, but it blows so very
fresh and thick weather, that I rather believe they
will go into Harbour before night. May God
Almighty give us success over these fellows, and
enable us to get a Peace.

[This letter was found open on Lord Nelson's desk,
and was brought to Lady Hamilton by Captain
Hardy, on his return to England. — ' Despatches.']

The letter to Horatia runs as follows :

MY DEAREST ANGEL, — I was made happy by the
pleasure of receiving your letter of iQth of September,
34

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

and I rejoice to hear you are so very good a girl, and
love dear Lady Hamilton, who most dearly loves you.
Give her a Kiss for me. The combined fleets of the
enemy are now reported to be coming out of Cadiz ;
and therefore, I answer your letter, my dearest
Horatia, to mark to you that you are ever uppermost
in my thoughts. I shall be sure of your prayers
for my safety, conquest and speedy return to dear
Merton, and our dearest good Lady Hamilton. Be
a good girl, mind what Miss Connor [her governess]
says to you. Receive, my dearest Horatia, the
affectionate parental blessing of your father

NELSON & BRONT&.

" His last act, a few minutes before leaving Merton,
was to visit and pray over his child." — ' Despatches.'

19. Oct. 2Qth. — Who first abstracted this half
sheet and its fellow? How did the former come
into the possession of J. Wild, Esq., and who annexed
the latter? How did Philip Toker, Esq., obtain his
" autographs or facsimiles " ? The book passed of
necessity through the hands of lawyers and officials :
but can any of these responsible gentlemen have
been the culprit? Other eyes and fingers were
probably busy, by divers sorts of permission, with
the precious pages, and the thief doubtless excused
himself either by affectionate desire for a relic or by
that hankering after romantic objects which some-
times stirs the most prosaic mind. Had a leaf been
torn from the Codicil itself, the mutilation would
inevitably have been noticed and brought home to
the offender. But the cautious removal of two

35 D 2

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

corresponding half sheets from the purely nautical
portion would be likely to elude observation. It is
possible, too, that the theft would not in those days
have been taken over seriously by any narrowly
official mind, seeing that the nautical pages did not
of themselves constitute a legal document.

20. Oct. list. — The 'Despatches' Volume gives
this entry as from Dr. Beatty, who heads it : Auto-
graph or facsimile copy in the possession of Philip
Toker, Esq.

21. In illustration of the entry under Oct. 2ist a
few extracts are appended from various biographical
sources : —

(a) His Lordship had ascended the poop, to have a
better view of both Lines of the British Fleet, and
while there, gave particular directions for taking
down from his cabin the different fixtures, and for
being very careful in removing the portrait of Lady
Hamilton. " Take care of my guardian angel," said
he, addressing himself to the persons to be employed
in this business. Immediately after this he quitted
the poop and retired to his cabin for a few minutes,
where he wrote the following Prayer and Codicil to
his Will . . ." (i.e. the last prayer, etc.)— Beatty's
' Narrative.'

(b) Shortly after this — at about eleven o'clock in
the morning — he quitted the poop to withdraw to his
cabin for a few minutes. Whilst he was below,
Lieutenant Pasco, who, though senior lieutenant,
acted as signal lieutenant on board the Victory, went
to Nelson's cabin to make a report, and also to

36

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

prefer a complaint, namely, that at the moment of so
glorious an opportunity he despite his seniority,
should be doing duty in an inferior station. On
entering the cabin the Lieutenant found Nelson on
his knees, writing. ... He was then penning that
beautiful prayer, said the Lieutenant. ... I waited
until he rose and communicated what I had to
report, but could not at such a moment disturb his
mind with any grievances of mine. Either before
or immediately after Pasco's visit Nelson added
that famous Codicil to his will. — ' Horatio Nelson.'
W. Clark Russell.

(c) At eleven o'clock Nelson went below to his
cabin, or rather — since the bulkheads which formed
his cabin had been removed — to the hanging screens
which temporarily formed a cabin for him. His
signal lieutenant followed him with some message,
and lifted the screen. Nelson was on his knees.
He was writing that memorable prayer, the last lines
he ever penned. — 'How England Saved Europe.'
W. H. Fitchett, Vol. 2.

(d) At seven o'clock Nelson had returned from
the poop to the cabin, for at that hour was made in
his private journal the last entry of occurrences — At
seven the combined fleets wearing in succession.
Here it seems likely that he laid down the pen,
for, when he was found writing again, some hours
later, it was to complete the long record of ex-
periences and of duties, with words that summed
up, in fit and most touching expression, the self-
devotion of a life already entering the shadow of
death. . . .

Towards eleven o'clock Nelson went below to the
37

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

cabin. . . . Entering the cabin the officer (i.e. Pasco)
paused at the threshold, for Nelson was on his knees
writing. The words, the last that he ever penned
were written in the private diary he habitually kept.
. . . They followed now, without break or space, or
paragraph, upon the last incident recorded— At
seven the enemy wearing in succession — and they
run thus — May the Great God, etc. — ' Life of Nelson/
Capt. A. T. Mahan.

[There is nothing in the manuscript to support
Captain Mahan's idea that the entry was penned at
intervals, and it may have been written at one spell,
as the other biographers seem to think.

It was on returning to the poop that Nelson
4 * amused the Fleet" with his famous signal.]

The discrepancies among these narratives are
obvious, and perhaps hardly important enough to
dwell on.

22. The Queen of Naples. See 'The Queen of
Naples and Lord Nelson/ by John Cordy Jeaffreson
(1889).

The conduct of the Government in refusing
to fulfil Nelson's wishes with regard to Lady
Hamilton has been much criticised, and the result,
alas ! is not on the whole to the advantage of that
hapless lovely creature. Popular sentiment in her
favour dies hard. And who of erring mortals shall
dare give sentence ?

23. The Codicil. By her friends Nelson's brother
is accused of having withheld the document itself
from Lady Hamilton until Parliament had secured to

38

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

him and his family its liberal provision, and then only
to have thrown it across at her at an interview, with
the expression, " Do what you like with this . . ."
If the information given by one of the latest con-
tributors to Nelsonian literature is trustworthy, the
Earl, as soon as he received the document from
Captain Hardy, took it with him to Doctors' Com-
mons, and was advised by him that, as it spoke freely
of the exertions of the Queen of Naples it should not
be published, and that as it did not deal with Lord
Nelson's estate it need not be proved by Nelson's
executor. The Earl, therefore, left the paper with
Sir William from the 23rd of December, 1805, to the
1 5th of February, 1806, and then took it to Lord
Grenville and read it to him.

There was really no secret about the codicil; it
was well known to Mr. Rose, Lady Hamilton's friend,
to Hardy and Dr. Scott. — ' Nelson, the Public and
Private Life of.' G. Lathom Browne (1891).

[Mr. G. Lathom Browne speaks of the Codicil as
the ninth. This is inaccurate : it is entered in the
Prerogative Court Calendar as the eighth in order
proved.]

24. The concluding words of Southey's ' Life of
Nelson' are as true to-day as when they were first
published : —

" He has left us, not, indeed, his mantle of inspira-
tion, but a name and an example which are at this
hour inspiring thousands of the youth of England — a
name which is our pride, and an example which will
continue to be our shield and our strength. Thus it

39

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

is that the spirits of the great and the wise continue
to live and act after them, verifying, in this sense, the
language of the old mythologist : —

To! /Liej/ 8aifj.ovcs etVi, Aios fitydXov Sia /3ovXay,

[For gods they are, through high Jove's counsel good,
Haunting the earth, the guardians of mankind.] "

ADDITIONAL LETTERS

MENTIONED IN THE DIARY AS WRITTEN TO
LADY HAMILTON

' Memoirs of the Life of Vice- Admiral Lord Viscount
Nelson, K.B., Duke of Bronte, &c., &c., &c/
By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, F.R.S., F.S.A.

VOL. II., p. 498

MY BELOVED EMMA, — I cannot even read your
letter. We have fair wind, and God will, I hope,
soon grant us a happy meeting. The wind is quite
fair and fresh. We go too swift for the boat. May
heaven bless you and Horatia with all those who
hold us dear to them. For a short time, farewell.
Ever yours,

NELSON AND BRONT£.
OFF DUNMORE, Sept. i6tht 1805, n a.m.

VOL. II., p. 499

"VICTORY," OFF PORTLAND,

September i6thy 1805.
At noon, Wind West — foul.

I have read, my dearest Emma, your kind and
affectionate letters of Saturday. With God's blessing
41

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

we shall soon meet again. Kiss dear Horatia a
thousand times for me. I write this letter, and I fear
I shall too soon have an opportunity of sending it,
for we are standing near Weymouth, the place of all
others I should wish to avoid ; but if it continues
moderate I hope to escape without anchoring; but
should I be forced, I shall act as a man, and your
Nelson, neither courting nor ashamed to hold up my
head before the greatest monarch in the world. I
have, thank God, nothing to be ashamed of.

I have wrote a line to the Duke , he will

shew it you, and I shall do it occasionally. I prepare
this to be ready in case opportunity offers, and I am
working very hard with Mr. Scott. If you see
Sir William Scott, say how very sorry I am not to
have seen him, but it was impossible. God bless you,
and believe me, ever most faithfully,
Yours,

NELSON AND BRONT£.

"VICTORY," OFF PLYMOUTH, September i^th,

Nine o'clock in the Morning,
Blowing fresh at W.S.W., dead foul wind.

I sent, my own dearest Emma, a letter for you last
night, in a Torbay Boat, and gave the man a guinea
to put it in the Post-Office. We have had a nasty
blowing night, and it looks very dirty. I am now
signalising the ships at Plymouth to join me ; but I
rather doubt their ability to get to sea. However, I
have got clear of Portland, and have Cawsand Bay
and Torbay under the lee. I intreat, my dear Emma,
that you will cheer up ; and we will look forward to
many many happy years, and be surrounded by our
42

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

children. God Almighty can, when he pleases >
remove the impediment. My heart and soul is with
you and Horatia. I got this line ready in case a
Boat should get alongside. For ever, ever, I am
yours, most devotedly,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

Mr. Rose said he would write to Mr. Bolton, if I
was sailed; but I have forgot to give him the
direction, but I will send it to-day. I think I shall
succeed very soon, if not at this moment.

Wednesday^ September \%th.
OFF THE LIZARD.

I had no opportunity of sending your letter yester-
day, nor do I see any prospect at present. The Ajax
and Thunderer are joining ; but it is nearly calm,
with a swell from the Westward. Perseverance has
got us thus far ; and the same will, I dare say, get us
on. Thomas seems to do very well and content.
Tell Mr. Lancaster that I have no doubt that his son
will do very well. God bless you, my own Emma !
I am giving my letters to Blackwood, to put on
board the first Vessel he meets going to England or
Ireland. Once more, heavens bless you ! Ever, for
ever, your

NELSON AND BRONTE.

43

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPH LETTERS,
&c., FORMED BY ALFRED MORRISON.

* THE HAMILTON & NELSON PAPERS.' VOL. II.

839. A. L. S. from Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton
Dated "Victory, Sep. 20, 1805, 30 Leg3. S.W. from
Stilly." i page 4to with Superscription.

A frigate is coming down, which we take to be the
Decade, from the Fleet off Cadiz. If the battle has
been fought, I shall be sadly vexed but I cannot
help myself. We have had very indifferent weather,
and it is still very dirty. Perseverance has got us
thus far, and I trust will accomplish all our wishes.
I write this line to put on board her, for if she has
news, I have to write to the Admiralty. May heavens
bless you. Kiss dear Horatia. For ever yours, &c.*

VOL II., p. 500.

" VICTORY/' OFF LISBON,
September 2$th, 1805.

MY DEAREST EMMA, — We are now in sight of the
Rock of Lisbon, and although we have very little
wind, I hope to get round Cape St. Vincent to-
morrow. We had only one day's real fair wind, but
by perseverance we have done much. I am anxious

* Pettigrew's ' Life of Nelson ' begins the letter : —
" My dearest Emma," and ends : — •

" Kiss dear Horalia for

" Yours faithfully

" NELSON AND BKONT£."

44

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

to join the fleet, for it would add to my grief if any
other man was to give them the Nelson touch, which
we say is warranted never to fail.

I have read with much interest your letters,
which I got at Merton, but I must have many others
afloat. I do feel by myself what you must have felt
at not hearing from me from January 2Qth to after
May 1 8th. At first I fancied that they had been
stopt by the Admiralty, as the account of Sir John
Orde's joining the Channel fleet got to the Admiralty
on the 3rd or 4th of May ; but I now trace that my
despatches with Layman went home in the Avenger
sloop, with a convoy, and that they had a very long
passage ; I mention all these circumstances that you
should never think that Nelson neglects or forgets.
I have this letter ready in case I should fall in with
anything from Lisbon homewards steering. May
God bless you, and with my warmest affections to
Horatia, be assured I am,
Yours,

NELSON AND BRONT£.

VOL. II., p. 509

To a letter apparently written on October ist he
adds on the 2nd October : —

And when Louis's squadron goes I shall have
twenty-three sail-of-the-line to meet them, but we
shall do very well. I am sensible that the Ministry
are sending me all the force they can, and I hope
to use it.

October 2nd. — Last night I got your dear letters,
September i8th, ipth, by Admiral Sutton. You
45

NELSON'S LAST DIARY

must not complain of my short letters. I have had,
as you will believe, a very distressing scene with poor
Sir Robert Calder. He has wrote home to beg an
inquiry, feeling confident that he can fully justify
himself. I sincerely hope he may, but — I have given
him the advice as to my dearest friend. He is in
adversity, and if he ever has been my enemy, he now
feels the pang of it, and finds me one of his best
friends.

Louis, Hallowell, Hoste, are all inquiring about
you, and desire their kind regards. I am pressed
beyond measure for time, for I cannot keep the
vessel, as Vice- Admiral Collingwood's and Sir Robert
Calder's despatches were stopt by me off Cape
St. Vincent on the 26th. May God bless you. Kiss
Horatia for me a thousand times. I shall write to
her very soon ; in eight or ten days another vessel
will be sent.

Your most faithful,

NELSON AND BRONT£.

October i$th. — Search has been made for the letter
of this date to Lady Hamilton, but without success.

LONDON :

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND GREAT WINDMILL STREET,

DA Nelson, Horatio Nelson,

87 Viscount

.1 Nelson's last diary

N4A32

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY